SOUND TIGERS AND ISLES BATTLE IN SCRIMMAGE

Courtesy: SoundTigers.com

Release: 01/17/2013

Courtesy: CMP Designz

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The Islanders and Sound Tigers participated in a Blue-White Scrimmage on Wednesday night in preparation of the Isles' season opener on Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils. The White Team came away with a 5-3 advantage after regulation, and the Blue Team swept the shootout that followed by a 3-0 score.

The Blue Team consisted mostly of players currently in Islanders Training Camp, while the White Team was composed primarily of Bridgeport Sound Tigers, as well as junior players Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart. Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano was impressed by the preparedness of the White Team, whose players have taken part in regular season games since September.

“I thought they played hard,” Capuano said. “You can tell they’ve been skating since September and that’s good for our team, because with a shortened training camp, the battle levels aren’t there, but tonight, our guys played hard.”

Matt Moulson put the Blue Team on the board 5:40 into the opening frame. Rick DiPietro, who started the game for the White Team and switched sides midway through the second period, stopped Mark Streit’s initial point shot, but after a scramble in front, Moulson powered the puck home, giving the Blue Team a 1-0 lead.

The White Team evened the score three minutes later courtesy of Nino Niederreiter. He skated down the right wing and went around a defender before switching to his forehand. Nabokov, playing for the Blue Team in the first half, made one save, but the winger’s second shot made it through. Ryan Strome and Dallas Jackson earned the assists. Later in the period, Aaron Ness fired a shot from the point on the power play that beat Nabokov top-shelf, putting the White Team up 2-1.

Moulson’s second tally of the contest early in the second period tied the game at 2-2. Tavares dropped a pass back to Streit, whose shot was tipped past DiPietro 47 seconds into the frame.

“That was a great play by Mark,” Moulson said. “He always has his head up, so my job is pretty easy – get to the net and put my stick on the ice.”

Kyle Okposo gave the Blue Team the lead three minutes later on the power play. Matt Martin’s shot from the left circle hit a defender and slowed down on its way to the net. Okposo picked up the loose change right in front and lit the lamp.

The goaltenders switched sides 10:27 into the second period. DiPietro tended the net for the Blue Team the rest of the evening, while Nabokov played for the White Team.

The White Team rattled off the next three goals before the end of regulation. Late in the second period, Jack Combs fed a saucer pass from the left side wall to Johan Sundstrom for a breakaway in the slot. The center utilized the time and space and put his shot top-shelf. With seven seconds remaining in the period, Scott Campbell gave the White Team a 4-3 lead, deflecting a Griffin Reinhart slap shot originating from the right half-wall.

Jack Combs boosted the White Team’s lead to 5-3 in the third period, deflecting a Ty Wishart point shot past Nabokov to close out the scoring in regulation.

Frans Nielsen scored in the first round of the shootout for the Blue Team and Moulson found the back of the net in the fifth round to knot the score 5-5 and send the breakaway competition into sudden death. Grabner finished the contest in the seventh round with a forehand past White Team goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Blue Team goaltender Rick DiPietro stood his ground through all seven rounds, not allowing a single shootout goal.